San José eSIM: what to know before you land
🇨🇷 San José, Costa Rica · SJO · 3-day pick: 3 GB for $9.99
Landing in San José
- SJO Juan Santamaría International
Juan Santamaría is in Alajuela, west of San José. For Guanacaste's beaches, Liberia airport (LIR) is closer.
- Install the Costa Rica eSIM at home on Wi-Fi before you fly.
- When the plane lands at SJO, turn on data roaming for the eSIM line, so maps and transport apps work from the arrivals hall.
- The days start counting on first connection in Costa Rica, not at purchase.
You'll need about 1.5 GB over 3 days. 3 GB covers it with room to spare.
Maps and messaging only? 1 GB · 7 days for $5.99.
Pay · $9.99Short stays in San José
| Stay | Maps & messaging | Plus socials & photos | Streaming & hotspot |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 days | $5.99 1 GB · 7 daysneeds ~409 MB | $9.99 3 GB · 30 daysneeds ~1 GB | $35.99 20 GB · 30 daysneeds ~2.6 GB |
| 3 days | $5.99 1 GB · 7 daysneeds ~614 MB | $9.99 3 GB · 30 daysneeds ~1.5 GB | $35.99 20 GB · 30 daysneeds ~3.9 GB |
| 4 days | $5.99 1 GB · 7 daysneeds ~819 MB | $9.99 3 GB · 30 daysneeds ~2 GB | $35.99 20 GB · 30 daysneeds ~5.2 GB |
| 5 days | $9.99 3 GB · 30 daysneeds ~1 GB | $9.99 3 GB · 30 daysneeds ~2.5 GB | $35.99 20 GB · 30 daysneeds ~6.5 GB |
| 7 days | $9.99 3 GB · 30 daysneeds ~1.4 GB | $18.99 5 GB · 30 daysneeds ~3.5 GB | $35.99 20 GB · 30 daysneeds ~9.1 GB |
Networks
The Costa Rica eSIM connects to CLARO. No 5G is listed on this plan; expect 4G/LTE.
Going on from San José? Latin America (17 countries), Global (202 countries) — cover Costa Rica too.
Questions about San José
Which airports serve San José?
Juan Santamaría International (SJO). Juan Santamaría is in Alajuela, west of San José. For Guanacaste's beaches, Liberia airport (LIR) is closer.
How much data do I need for 3 days in San José?
About 1.5 GB for maps, messaging, socials and photos (our estimate: 0.5 GB a day). Our pick is 3 GB · 30 days for $9.99. If you only need maps and messaging, 1 GB · 7 days for $5.99 is enough.
Can I be online as soon as I land at SJO?
Yes, if you install the eSIM before you fly. Install it at home on Wi-Fi, then switch on data roaming for the eSIM line when you land; the plan's days start when it first connects to a network in Costa Rica.
Which networks will I use in San José?
The Costa Rica eSIM connects to CLARO. No 5G is listed on this plan; expect 4G/LTE.